How pets help you combat stress and anxiety: Explanation
How animals help in the fight against stress (Photo: freepik.com)
Pets not only bring joy to our lives but also help combat stress and anxiety. The unconditional love and loyalty of animals positively impact mental health and enhance overall well-being.
RBC-Ukraine explains how pets contribute to your mental health.
You will live a real life
Pets help you live in the here and now. Anxiety often arises from worries about the future or reflections on the past. However, your pet is always in the present moment and will remind you of the importance of being more mindful of the present.
Having a pet can reduce your anxiety, provide comfort, and, most importantly, give you confidence about the future.
They help combat loneliness
Having a pet helps fight loneliness. If you spend the whole day alone, it can be psychologically challenging, as everyone needs attention and physical contact. A pet can become your loyal companion in moments when you need love, hugs, or simply someone to listen.
While pets cannot fully replace human interaction, they can fill the void that people feel due to social isolation and lack of social support.
You will move more
Physical exercise is a popular way to relieve stress and improve mental health. If you have a pet that requires regular physical activity, it will motivate you to move more.
Walks, runs, or playtime with your furry friend help keep you active and combat stress and anxiety.
You will sleep better
About one-third of adults do not get enough sleep. The quality of your sleep negatively affects not only physical health but also mental well-being, causing stress and anxiety that can disrupt your sleep and impact the following morning.
Walks, playtime, or simply interacting with your pet can help you sleep better. Just 30 minutes of activity during the day can contribute to better rest at night.
You will feel needed
Our pets help us feel needed and wanted. When we have a pet to care for, it benefits our mental health. Taking care of another living being gives us a sense of purpose and meaning.
This holds true even when pets do not interact very actively with their owners. A 2016 study that examined the impact of pets on mental health gave elderly participants five crickets in a cage. Researchers observed their mood over eight weeks and compared results with a group that did not care for animals.
It turned out that participants who cared for the crickets felt less depressed compared to those in the control group. This supports the idea that caring for a living creature benefits mental health.
A list of 8 animals that best relieve stress has also been released.
Sources: Bert Houd Animal Hospital and New Port Academy.
